speech of the king's was the greatest calamity of all. "Most excellent rights!" he exclaimed, alluding to lord North's defence of the war, as a vindication of parliamentary rights," which have cost Great Britain thirteen provinces, four islands, a hundred thousand men, and seventy millions of money, her empire over the ocean, her rank among nations, her dignity and commerce abroad, her happiness at home rights which have deprived us of all this, and yet threaten to spoil us of what remains!" Mr. Fox's amendment, however, was negatived by a large majority. In the upper house, a similar amendment to the address, supported by the duke of Richmond, the earl of Shelburne, the marquis of Rockingham, lord Camden, and other noblemen of the minority, experienced the same rejection.

On bringing up the report of the address, the debate was renewed, and. principally distinguished by the eloquence of Mr. Pitt, who described the disunion already prevalent among the ministers with great vigour and effect; insisting, that after a comparison of the sentiments individually delivered by these ministers, it was most obvious that no union or confidence subsisted among them, and that, consequently, the nation ought to withdraw all its confidence from them, Mr. Pitt's speech was well calculated to alarm the supporters of ministers; and, by infusing the notion, that the fabric of the cabinet was verging to its decline, he adopted the surest method of accelerating the event. During the debates that took place before the recess, some subordinate subjects of censure were introduced by the opponents of ministry, of which the principal was Mr. Burke's motion respecting the confiscation of property at St. Eustatius; an action which, he said, disgraced us in the eyes of civilized Europe.

In debating the army estimates, the fundamental principle of the war once more became a subject of

controversy. On this occasion, sir James Lowther moved the house of commons for a declaration against all further attempts to reduce the Americans to obedience by force; and after a long debate, in which the nature and objects of any future war on that continent were closely canvassed, the motion was negatived by no greater a majority than fortyone votes, the numbers being two hundred and twenty to one hundred and seventy-nine. Encouraged by their increasing influence, and by the daily desertion of members from the ministerial standard, the opposition now assumed a bolder tone; and even the motion for a committee of supply was strenuously refused. When the minister complained, that this was cramping the executive government, that it was without precedent since the revolution, and replete with national danger, he was answered by Mr. Fox and others, that this was the chief and the true constitutional power which was lodged in the hands of parliament, to exercise restraint over the conduct of ministers; and that to forego it, would be to resign the very bulwark of parliamentary power. They maintained, that if no precedent to that effect had occurred since the revolution, it was only because no administration had ever been so persevering in its pernicious measures.

By the repeated motions which were now made in quick succession, the minister felt himself much weakened, though not overpowered. He continued, by an extraordinary muster, to exercise a majority little short of a hundred votes. On the 12th of December, the minority renewed their opposition to the war, under the form of a specific motion, cautiously worded, and which went only to declare, that all further efforts for the coercion of America would be injurious to the interests of the country. No debate could be productive of deeper interest, or elicit a more copious display of strength, and wis

dom, and eloquence, than the discussion of this question now drew from the powerful phalanx of opposition. It was less memorable for the talents displayed by ministers, than for the contradiction of sentiment which appeared among them. Lord North avowed his opinion, that it would neither be wise nor right to prosecute the war in America any longer on a continental plan, that is, by sending fresh armies to march through the colonies, in order, by those marches, to subdue America to obedience; but, as posts could not be abandoned, nor commerce be protected against American cruisers, he resisted the motion for a total suspension of arms. The minister was supported by Mr. Welbore Ellis and lord George Germaine; the latter of whom declared, that he would retire from his official station whenever the American war was to be abandoned. At length the motion for the order of the day, setting aside the original question, was carried by a majority of forty.

The debate was renewed on the 14th of December, when the eloquence of Pitt was again displayed, in describing the total contrariety of principles which prevailed in the present cabinet: He represented them as being at war with each other's opinion, distrustful of mutual support, yet meanly continuing in power for the enjoyment of office, thus standing responsible for measures of which they could not approve. Their only principle of coherence, their only common object, he averred, seemed to be the ruin of the empire; an object which he feared they would accomplish ere the vengeance of the people could overtake them. “And God grant,” said he, "that the punishment be not so long delayed as to involve a great and innocent family, who, though they share not the guilt, most likely will participate in the atonement !".

From the period of this debate to the time of the

winter recess, the attention of parliament was called to business of inferior interest. The supplies granted for the ensuing year, 1782, amounted to twenty-four millions, and the number of men voted for the navy was a hundred thousand. The adjournment was not carried in either house without a strong opposition; the crimination of ministers, as usual, mingling itself with every debate; but, of the charges brought against them, a more full and comprehensive view was reserved for the contests of parties which succeeded the recess.

The house of commons resumed its sittings after the holidays, on the 21st of January, 1782, and the first business brought before them was, an inquiry into the conduct of the first lord of the admiralty. Mr. Fox moved the house to take this subject into their consideration; and a committee being appointed for that purpose, he, on the 7th of February, stated at length what he conceived to be instances of gross and criminal neglect on the part of lord Sandwich; which having done, he concluded with moving a resolution, that there had been gross mismanagement in the administration of the naval affairs of Great Britain during the course of the year 1781. Lord Mulgrave stood forward in defence of the earl of Sandwich, and endeavoured to refute all the particular charges adduced against him. Lord Howe supported the accusation; and, after a long debate a division took place, in which the motion was negatived by two hundred and five against one hundred and eighty-three. The same question was again brought forward for discussion, and rejected by two hundred and thirty-six votes against two hundred and seventeen.

But the period had now arrived, when the opinion of the public respecting the continuance of the American war was to be rendered so apparent, that no secret wish for a further prosecution of it should

induce the ministers to take any measures for retarding a final adjustment. On the 22d of February, general Conway moved in the house of commons, that an address be presented to his majesty, imploring him to listen to the advice of his faithful commons, that the war in America should be no longer pursued for the impracticable purpose of reducing the inhabitants of that country to obedience by force; and to express their hopes that a happy reconciliation might be effected with the revolted colonies. A long debate ensued, in which the ministers continued to speak on the subject in a vague and indeterminate manner. When both sides of the house had exhausted their often repeated arguments, the country gentlemen, as they are called, gave up the support of ministers, and the motion was negatived by a majority of one solitary vote; there being only a hundred and ninety-four to a hundred and ninety-three. The opposition now cherished the most sanguine hopes of victory; and, accordingly, on the 27th of February, they proposed the same motion under another form. The usual arguments were repeated, and, on a division of the house, the opposition succeeded in carrying their point, by a majority of two hundred and thirtyfour against two hundred and fifteen.

Thus, after a contest of eight years, Mr. Fox and his friends succeeded in their efforts to procure a vote from the house for requesting the king to conclude the American war. The resolution thus carried was as follows:-" Resolved, February 27th, in the house of commons, that an humble address be presented to his majesty, that the farther prosecution of offensive war on the continent of North America, for the purpose of reducing the revolted colonies to obedience by force, will be the means of weakening the efforts of this country against her European enemies; that it tends, under present